In Hand to Earth, Yolŋu song keepers Daniel and David Wilfred recontextualise their 40,000 year old song tradition in a resolutely contemporary setting with Korean-born vocalist Sunny Kim, trumpet and electronics maestro Peter Knight, and woodwind virtuoso Aviva Endean.

Hand to Earth, has quickly developed an international reputation as one of Australia’s most distinctive contemporary music ensembles winning international praise and a slew of awards. The quintet’s third album, Ŋurru Wäŋa, produced by ROOM40 boss Lawrence English, and Peter Knight, has just been released accompanied by a UK Europe tour which saw the band collaborate with British superstar, SHABAKA, for performances including the Barbican Centre London, Pierre Boulez Saal Berlin, and De Singel Antwerp with Sami singer/composer, Ánnámáret.

Daniel sings in language, and is the keeper of Yolngu Manikay (songs) from North East Arnhem Land that can be traced back for over 40,000 years. His is the oldest continuously practised music tradition in the world. Sunny sings in English and Korean intoning gestures that invoke raw elemental forces. Together they sing of the stars, of fire, and of the cooling rain against the drone of David Wilfred’s didgeridoo and atmospheres created by Peter Knight and Aviva Endean who draw on the minimalism of Brian Eno and Jon Hassell to create a setting for these beautifully contrasting voices.